Tucson Sugar Skulls Come up Short Against Arizona Rattlers in Rivalry Showdown
Glendale, AZ – The Tucson Sugar Skulls battled hard on the road against the Arizona Rattlers but ultimately fell 41–25. Despite a strong defensive effort throughout much of the game, communication breakdowns and key mistakes shifted momentum in the Rattlers' favor.
A Low-Scoring Start
The Arizona Rattlers opened with the ball and capitalized quickly, scoring a touchdown that put Tucson in a 7-point deficit. Tucson attempted to respond with a field goal, but ultimately failed to put points on the board. Tucson’s fortune changed after defensive lineman Rafiq Abdul-Wahid recovered a ball fumbled by the Rattlers. Quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson converted the turnover into a touchdown for Tucson by pushing the ball into the end zone, tying the score 7-7.
The second quarter opened with the Arizona Rattlers securing a field goal, bumping Arizona into the lead, 10-7. Tucson gained possession, but the Skulls’ offense struggled to capitalize due to faulty communication and errors snapping the ball. Kicker Ben Woodard was able to tie up the game with a field goal, bringing the score to 10-10. Arizona quickly responded with a touchdown, briefly placing the Rattlers in the lead, 17-10. Ja’Rome Johnson reacted by securing a touchdown for the Skulls, and the second quarter ended with the Rattlers leading by one point, 17-16.
An Unfortunate Unraveling
Tucson opened the second half with the ball, and kicker Ben Woodard kicked a 41-yard field goal to regain the lead for the Skulls, 19-17. Before Arizona could respond, defensive lineman Djimon Brooks snagged a fumbled ball, giving Tucson possession of the ball. However, Arizona quickly secured an interception, regained possession, and scored another touchdown, putting the Rattlers in the lead 24-19. The Rattlers scored another touchdown, a deuce, and a safety, widening Arizona’s lead to 34-19. Things continued to unravel for Tucson, as quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson injured his knee and had to step out of the game. The third quarter ended with Arizona in the lead, 34-19.
After a failed field goal attempt by Arizona, Tucson gained possession and launched an attempt to regain the lead. D’Wan Mathis stepped in as quarterback but was ultimately unable to secure points for Tucson. Arizona secured an interception and converted it into a touchdown, expanding their lead 41-19. Running back Brandon Mackey secured one last touchdown for the Skulls, but it wasn’t enough to push Tucson back into the lead. In the end, the Arizona Rattlers emerged victorious 41-25.
Up Next
Next up, the Tucson Sugar Skulls return to the Boneyard to face the Northern Arizona Wranglers. The matchup takes place July 19, with kickoff set for 4:30 PM MST. Don’t miss the excitement of the Boneyard! Secure your tickets now to cheer on the Tucson Sugar Skulls as they continue the season.
PLAYERS MENTIONED
DL, 6’2, V
QB, 6’0, V
#18 Ben Woodard
K, 6’0, 1
#44 Djimon Brooks
OL, 6’4, 2
#14 D'Wan Mathis
QB, 6’6, 1
RB, 5'7, 2